Some 80 Volunteer Ministers are active on the ground in Tokyo handling food and supply logistics and helping displaced people. Additional groups of Volunteer Ministers have been dispatched to Northeast Japan and are working in shelters in Onagawa, Watari, Natori, Sendai and Kesennuma. Within the first ten days of the disaster we have reached close to 8,000 people. In addition to delivering Assists1
and helping with logistics and distribution, our teams are also training people daily on basic Volunteer Minister technology.

If you are planning to join us in Japan for at least one month please send in your application form.

We asked the Volunteer Ministers on the ground what you will need to bring with you. While you are getting ready to go, please take note of the following:

It is still winter in Japan. Temperatures fluctuate between 39 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) during the day and 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) at night. Light snow fall is normal, especially in the North of Japan. It is highly recommended that you bring the following with you:

CLOTHES

High top cotton socks - get 3x the number you think you will need!

Cotton underwear boxers for guys.

Cotton briefs for ladies.

Long warm pants - several pairs.

Long sleeve undershirts - several.

Long sleeve shirts - several.

Thick warm jacket - big enough so you can freely move.

Regular warm gloves - several pairs.

Warm hat or beany.

Raincoat.

Heavy duty working gloves.

Sturdy shoes - military boots type. NOT new ones but ones you have broken in. New boots can be hard on the feet.

Sports shoes (light weight).

Warm pajamas.

A sleeping bag made for cold climate.

HYGIENE ITEMS

Towels

Washcloths

Baby wipes

Hand sanitizer

Toilet tissue

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Band-aids

Dental floss

Soap

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

Backpack for everyday walking (sturdy but not too big).

Strong plastic bag to keep your ID and other documents safe.

Flash light

Pens, paper and/or a notebook.

Protein bars and nuts (meals are provided but you might want a snack).

Hand cream

Tweezers

Medical face masks (we have supplies but bring reserves. If the mask gets wet you need to replace it immediately).

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Don't forget to bring your chopsticks along!

1. Assist:
L. Ron Hubbard developed numerous applications of his discoveries for the mental and spiritual aspects of a person's physical difficulties. And as more and more techniques evolved, a new body of technology came into use, called Assists. An Assist is an action undertaken to help a person confront physical difficulties. For more information on Assists click here.